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Louisiana Agriculture Magazine Winter 2026
Louisiana’s agricultural and natural resource systems are entering a period of rapid change shaped by new technologies, shifting economic pressures and evolving environmental conditions. Louisiana Solutions, Global Impact, the strategic plan for LSU Agriculture, is designed to guide the work of the LSU AgCenter and College of Agriculture in addressing these realities with clarity, purpose and collaboration.
Several AgCenter faculty strive to meet the plan’s goals and prepare the people of Louisiana for the future. Plant pathologists search for exciting new solutions for fungal diseases in soybeans and work to understand plant parasites that affect sweet potato crops. Additionally, researchers and extension agents are meeting the needs of Louisiana industries and communities to maintain clean water supplies. Read more about the AgCenter’s research and education efforts in this issue.
Louisiana Solutions, Global Impact
Matt Lee
The LSU Agriculture strategic plan — Louisiana Solutions, Global Impact — aims to strengthen production systems, expand economic opportunities and support communities across the state.
Louisiana Solutions, Global Impact: The LSU Agriculture Strategic Plan
LSU AgCenter Communications
The LSU AgCenter and College of Agriculture unveiled a bold strategic plan encapsulated by the slogan Louisiana Solutions, Global Impact. The plan aims to position LSU as a national and global leader in agricultural innovation, education and outreach through transformative, Louisiana-driven solutions.
Fly Management: Impacts on Cattle Performance, Health and Economics
Matheus Ferreira, Ashley Edwards, Marcelo Vedovatto and Lee Faulk
Fly management is a constant challenge for cattle producers in the southeastern United States, where warm and humid conditions favor rapid increases in fly populations. Numerous studies by LSU AgCenter researchers and other scientists have shown that fly infestations affect the productivity and profitability of cattle operations.
Lane Foil: Accomplished Entomologist and Mentor
Kyle Peveto, Michael Stout and Claudia Husseneder
Lane Foil, an accomplished researcher and a professor in the LSU AgCenter Department of Entomology for over four decades, died in June 2025. He leaves a long list of accomplishments and a legacy of scholarship, mentorship and scientific innovation.
Torpedograss: A New Weed in Sugarcane Production
Matthew Foster, Albert Orgeron and Kenneth Gravois
Torpedograss, a tropical weed, is now infesting some Louisiana sugarcane. Matthew Foster, the sugarcane weed specialist, is studying which treatments can help manage this new threat.
Building Resilience Against Severe Winter Weather in Louisiana
Shelly Kleinpeter, Rubayet Bin Mostafiz and Meggan Franks
The LaHouse team received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture following a freeze in 2024 to educate homeowners on staying safe during severe winter weather and maximizing their homes’ energy efficiency.
Timothy Miller and Tristan Watson
The reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis) is highly damaging and is found in many Louisiana sweet potato fields. A tropical species, it parasitizes the roots of numerous high-value crops. AgCenter researchers are working to better manage this pest.
Plant-Derived Natural Molecules Are New Tools to Manage Important Fungal Diseases in Soybeans
Indira Poudel, Madaleine Alessi, Sara Thomas-Sharma, Vinson Doyle and Chien-Yu Huang
Many fungal pathogens can infect soybeans and detrimentally impact yield. To enhance the resilience of soybean production against fungal diseases, a team of plant pathologists is exploring the use of naturally occurring, plant-derived molecules that have antimicrobial activities or defense-priming effects as novel tools to manage important fungal diseases of soybeans.
Experiential Learning Programs for Sustainable Agricultural Water
M.P. Hayes
While most students rely on summer internships to explore posteducational opportunities, the LSU AgCenter hosts federally funded experiential learning programs that enhance the future workforce with practical skills from diverse stakeholders.
Adopt-A-Pond: Reducing Pollution Through Innovative Education Programs
Whitney Wallace and Carol Franze
St. Tammany Parish has implemented a range of flood control practices that create unique opportunities to both reduce stormwater impacts and engage youth in real-world watershed education. Through the Adopt-A-Pond program, the LSU AgCenter partners with local schools to support these hands-on learning experiences while promoting stewardship of neighborhood waterways.
USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service Harvesting Opportunities: The Role of Grants in Boosting Local Food Production[ME2]
Isabella Frank and Cecilia Stevens
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service has offered opportunities for small‑scale producers to apply for infrastructure grants designed to strengthen farm operations and meet the growing demand for local foods. Infrastructure grants are essential to helping these producers meet market demands, and the LSU AgCenter helps these producers apply for these grants in many ways.
Damon Abdi: Developing Solutions for Louisiana Landscapes, Nursery Industry
Olivia McClure
An assistant professor of landscape horticulture at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station, Damon Abdi conducts research to improve our understanding of ornamental plants while also educating educates horticulture professionals and everyday Louisianans about them.
AgCenter Researcher, Students Aim to Educate Louisianans About Mussels and Water Quality
Kyle Peveto
A fish and mussel ecology lab in the School of Renewable Natural Resources focuses on freshwater fish and mussels while educating the public about many lesser known, yet significant, species.
LSU AgCenter News for Winter 2026
LSU College of Agriculture News Winter 2026
